Star Trek Through Rubin

Star Trek through Rubin

Conventional wisdom holds that intermediate solutions, or compromises, are naturally present when issues are highly polarized.  This notion presupposes the existence of intermediate solutions and that the opposing ideologies are accurate and equally distanced from the center.   As portrayed in Star Trek: The Next Generation “Up the Long Ladder,” compromising in the center is not always an option.  The crew of the starship Enterprise encounters two isolated civilizations, both with small populations and close to extinction.  Human sexuality is the theme of the episode. Gayle Rubin’s “Thinking Sex: Notes for a Radical Theory of Politics of Sexuality” illustrates disparities of the two societies.  More specifically, Rubin’s work will describe how sexual practices are the result of social codes, how the formation of sexual hierarchies form and amplify differences, and why the final solution is not viable.

The Bringloidi and Mariposa colonies are introduced to the viewer.  The Bringloidi aspire to a simpler life and they resemble rural farmers from the nineteenth century.  Their sexual behavior is portrayed as close to nature, for pleasure, and reproduction.  They are guided by social conventions conforming to the community’s ideal of a simpler life.  The Mariposa community has a historical lineage based on cloning.  Their need for sexual contact diminished where they no longer engaged in sexual acts.  Rubin argues against the traditional notion that sexual behavior is primarily biological.  She presents the idea that historical practices and social codes encourage certain forms of sexual behavior (2368).  She anchors her argument with Michel Foucault’s notion, “Sexuality in Western societies has been structured within an extremely punitive social framework, and has been subjected to very real formal and informal controls” (2387).   Rubin’s writing clearly illustrates how social ideology formed the sexual attitudes in both colonies.   Additionally, Foucault speaks to enforcement of the attitudes through shared cultural values promoted by the dominant view.

Rubin describes that various sex acts form sexual hierarchies (2388).  Further, opposite notions are paired against what is considered good and what is considered bad.  Good is represented as upward mobility, opportunity, and prestige.  Bad is associated with lower economic status, degeneracy and repugnance (2388).  The Bringloidi are heterosexual and they are portrayed as lower class, uneducated, boisterous, dirty, and attached to their vices.  The Mariposa are asexual and portrayed as highly intelligent, clean, proper and sophisticated.   The outward appearance of the Mariposa suggests their sexual behavior is advantageous, and the Bringloidi’s physical copulations are disadvantageous.  A hierarchy based on sexual behavior is formed and implies social rewards for the Mariposa colony and assigns social limitations and stigmas to the Bringloidis.

The two colonies form a compromise where the Mariposians will physically mate with Bringloidians.  It is discussed and agreed, by the dominant view, that heterosexual intercourse will naturally instill itself into the Mariposians.  The compromise reflects the notion that sexual behavior is biological.  Rubin writes, “Whenever there is polarization, there’s an unhappy tendency to think the truth lies somewhere in between” (2396).  This notion accurately depicts the proposed solution.  In this case, most heterosexual viewers would support the solution as it is a projection of their own sexual desires.  However, people who are homosexual or transgendered might concur with Rubin that the solution is doomed because it is not reasonable to think someone can magically change their sexuality.  Although a polite ending, the compromise is based on Western ideology of sexual behavior and not on Rubin’s notion of using empirical evidence or thoughtful understanding (2385).

Compromises are a part of life and people understand that involved parties usually have to give a little to resolve differences.  However, this episode, as interpreted by Rubin, demonstrates prevailing Western ideology and misses the mark with the expectation that an entire population should change their sexuality.  Rubin affirms that sexuality does not lend itself to compromise.  However, it should be noted that the show’s creator, Gene Roddenberry, was optimistic of a bright future encompassing equality for all.  There is little doubt the ending would have changed if Roddenberry had a copy of Gayle Rubin’s writing sitting in his lap.

  

            Works Cited

Rubin, Gayle. “Thinking Sex: Notes for a Radical Theory of Politics of Sexuality.” The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism.  Ed. Vincent B. Leitch et al.  2^nd ed. New York: W.W.Norton & Co., 2010.  2372-2402. Print.

“Up the Long Ladder.” Star Trek: the Next Generation.  Paramount Pictures. May 22^nd, 1989. Television.